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So I will restore the panels I have. I have removed the driver's side panel, and in this picture I have recovered the center portion of the panel with black vinyl. Also the trim piece was removed and the 'woodgrain 'was removed. It is not real wood, but a thin piece of steel that has a wood like covering. I'm going to use wood veneer. I'll post pictures along the way. I read the posts about this topic, but they were mostly arguments about preference. I like wood, so there! Original wood isn't.
Corvette America makes pre-cut wood veneer in the correct grain/stain. $25/pair. I got them recently and they worked fairly well but needed some slight trimming on the front to fit.
Used AL tape to cover cracks and holes. Used JB Weld plastic bonder to build up front corner of armrest. (See first picture for original condition.). Scratched up entire surface , washed and dried.
Hopefully, the vinyl material you use is thin, vinyl-only stuff. If you buy the cloth-backed material, it will be too thick to fit into grooves, etc. Good luck with your project. Looks like you have a good start.
P.S. Even if it doesn't come out looking like you want, you will still have learned a lot about fixing interior pieces, and you haven't spent a lot to try the repair. And, if you are successful, you have a better looking door panel for not much outlay; PLUS you have the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
Thanks for that post. Unfortunately, yes the product I used has a thin cotton backing, and is too thick. Had to do a lot of cuts and tucking.
Unless you have the patience of a saint , DON'T DO THIS! It's harder than body work. Yes, I learned from this, I'll settle for this one cause it's my car. I would never do this for anyone else . P.S. found out where Bubba works (right here! ). Yes, that's electrical tape .
Nice try. Welcome to the School of Hard Knocks. New info for the brain stem.
You are not "Bubba" if you attempt to repair something. If you can find any Corvette parts swap meets in your area, you might look for a used door panel with only damage that you believe you can successfully repair (minor cracking, etc). Your 'gap filling' technique looks OK; as long as there is no major damage, you can probably get it to look good.
For recoloring interior parts, do a SEARCH on "vinyl dye". Regular paint is NOT what you want to use. Vinyl dye is paint with a flex additive so movement of the material won't cause cracking or separation issues. Liquid SEM vinyl dye is the best, IMO. A SEARCH will tell you all about it. Very easy to do and great results.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
Welcome to the School of Hard Knocks. New info for the brain stem. 
